Debate on political rebellion - Our view: Tea Party activists take aim, but many miss target - Opinion - USATODAY.com Our view on political rebellion: Tea Party activists take aim, but many miss target
Rolling back Big Government is really about health care costs.
As Tea Party activists gather for this weekend's convention in Nashville, it is safe to say that shrinking the federal government will be foremost in their minds. After all, to the extent that the group has a core organizing principle, it is that Washington has gotten too big.
And yet, apart from the surging bills that Washington absorbs for health care, the surprising reality is that Big Government isn't all that big by historical standards. Even with an economic stimulus, a bank bailout and two wars, non-medical spending by the federal government is a smaller percentage of the economy than it was during most of Ronald Reagan's administration.
In just a few years, as the stimulus shrinks and the economy expands, government spending outside of health care will drop to about 16% of the economy, roughly where it has been since the mid-1990s. By contrast, even though Reagan began paring back government, non-medical spending hovered around 20% of the economy during his administration.
The reason for this is no mystery, even if it's not part of the daily political narrative. As the government's medical tab surged from $72 billion in 1980 to an estimated $912 billion in 2010, traditional government functions ? things like roads, criminal justice and education ? had to be more tightly controlled simply to avoid the kind of outlandish deficits we've seen in recent years.
In that sense, the Tea Partiers are barking up the wrong trees. If their goal is to control spending, they should be demanding curbs in Medicare and answering President Obama's call for health care reform with counterproposals heavier on cost control.
Tea Partiers also say taxes are too high, but here, too, perception differs from reality, at least by history's measure. In 2009 and 2010, tax receipts collected by Washington will total 14.8% of the economy. That is the lowest since 1950.
If the activists truly want to reduce the deficit, they should be demanding that the two parties work together. With the minority party always poised to attack when the majority sticks its neck out, nothing gets done......they are too busy cashing their social security checks
Replies
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Skunky
The news networks are having a field day getting sound bites out of people who look like they just strolled out of a Sam Adams Beer commercial shoot. Between the nutty tea partiers, their nutty keynote speaker, the super bowl and the global warming defying snowstorm weekend programming is set.
I wish one of the networks would devote 30 seconds to the fiscal train wreck we are heading for in the not too distant future that I think the tea partiers at least have some sense of.
Nah, the patriot costumed tea partier shakily interpreting the Constitution in thick red clay drawl makes for much better programming. Stay tuned and enjoy the hijinks!
I wish one of the networks would devote 30 seconds to the fiscal train wreck we are heading for in the not too distant future that I think the tea partiers at least have some sense of.
Nah, the patriot costumed tea partier shakily interpreting the Constitution in thick red clay drawl makes for much better programming. Stay tuned and enjoy the hijinks!
SoWal Guide
notes from the Tea Party Convention
It seems to me that Tea Party participants are making an effort to focus their efforts, get organized and get serious about the changes they want to see in leadership (president) and policy. This group is redefining its image and going for real power to make things happen - I am thinking they are to be taken a bit more seriously these days...
"The movement is maturing..."
It seems to me that Tea Party participants are making an effort to focus their efforts, get organized and get serious about the changes they want to see in leadership (president) and policy. This group is redefining its image and going for real power to make things happen - I am thinking they are to be taken a bit more seriously these days...
"The movement is maturing..."
February 6, 2010, 11:10 am Notes From the Tea Party Convention
By KATE ZERNIKE
NASHVILLE ? Yes, there were the handful of Revolutionary War re-enactors with their powdered wigs and tri-corner hats. And a guy with the T-shirt proclaiming himself a proud member of the ?Tennessee MOB? ? a poke back at politicians who dismissed tea partiers as an ?angry mob.? And one of the speakers did insist that Jesus? birth was better documented than President Obama?s.
But at the inaugural National Tea Party Convention here this weekend, gone were the placards protesters had....
more at New York Times
Beach Fanatic
In contrast, the tea party protesters, many of them as fractious and loudmouthed as Brooks thinks, are interested in substantive political issues. They decry the dangers of expanding the national debt, increasing government spending and putting government in command of the health care sector.
Their concerns have basis in fact. The national debt is on a trajectory to double as a percentage of the economy over 10 years, and the Democrats' health care bills threaten to bend the cost curve up. Higher taxes could choke off economic recovery and keep unemployment up near double-digit rates for years.
Last year's stimulus bill surreptitiously raised the budget baseline for many domestic spending programs and sent money to state and local governments -- a payoff to the public employee unions who spent more than $100 million to elect Democrats in 2008.
Agree with the tea party folk or not, these are substantive public policy issues of fundamental importance.
Obama's Rapturous Style Versus Tea Party Substance - Rasmussen Reports?
Their concerns have basis in fact. The national debt is on a trajectory to double as a percentage of the economy over 10 years, and the Democrats' health care bills threaten to bend the cost curve up. Higher taxes could choke off economic recovery and keep unemployment up near double-digit rates for years.
Last year's stimulus bill surreptitiously raised the budget baseline for many domestic spending programs and sent money to state and local governments -- a payoff to the public employee unions who spent more than $100 million to elect Democrats in 2008.
Agree with the tea party folk or not, these are substantive public policy issues of fundamental importance.
Obama's Rapturous Style Versus Tea Party Substance - Rasmussen Reports?
Beach Fanatic
I could get behind such a movement if its guiding principle really was fiscal responsibility.
Beach Fanatic
It seems to me that Tea Party participants are making an effort to focus their efforts, get organized and get serious about the changes they want to see in leadership (president) and policy. This group is redefining its image and going for real power to make things happen - I am thinking they are to be taken a bit more seriously these days...
"The movement is maturing..."
Not if they crown Sarah Palin as their poster girl.
Beach Fanatic
Not if they crown Sarah Palin as their poster girl.
I agree who wants to look at her, I pick this one for the poster.
beats on hood
As an aside, bob, do you know the slang meaning of teabag? If not, I suggest that you google it to avoid embarrassment. Just a friendly suggestion. 
Hey, Minnie, have you seen the SNL skit about Scott Brown?
Saturday Night Live - New Senator - Video - NBC.com
Hey, Minnie, have you seen the SNL skit about Scott Brown?
Saturday Night Live - New Senator - Video - NBC.com
Edited
Beach Fanatic
I agree who wants to look at her, I pick this one for the poster.
At least now he kept his Republicanism in check (as well as his unit) during his road Massachusetts road show, and he is pro-choice....naw that wouldn't work. He is tappable I guess.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
I'm with Minnie. If it's all going to hell anyway, might as well enjoy the view on the way. 
SoWal Guide
As an aside, bob, do you know the slang meaning of teabag? If not, I suggest that you google it to avoid embarrassment. Just a friendly suggestion.
Hey, Minnie, have you seen the SNL skit about Scott Brown?
Saturday Night Live - New Senator - Video - NBC.com
I'm pretty sure Bob is completely aware of his choice of terms.
Not if they crown Sarah Palin as their poster girl.
I don't know about that at all. Never underestimate a determined, organized, growing group of dissatisfied Americans - with the right support from the right people and the right amount of $$... anything can happen. Palin could be sitting in the white house. scary but possible. but I'm thinking if this group really progresses with a strong agenda then Palin won't even be a consideration.
SoWal Guide
I agree who wants to look at her, I pick this one for the poster.
SoWal Expert
He looks like he had a little "manscaping" done before his photo shoot.
He is not wearing pants, is he!!
beats on hood
I'm pretty sure Bob is completely aware of his choice of terms.Good. I don't know him, so I was just checkin'.
SoWal Guide
Good. I don't know him, so I was just checkin'.
you should know Bob by now. He's rather "hip". but hope he doesn't break a hip. never mind.
there are many definitions these days! here is one:
teabagger
A whining fool shouting loudly for liberty but not willing to pay the bill.
example:
After most American workers saw more money in their paycheck due to the lower tax rate, the teabaggers at Fox News railed against high taxes, but did not discuss how much Jesus hated hypocrisy.
Edited
SoWal Insider
This article doesn't make it's argument for me and the comparisons are flawed by using percentages because, take this line for example:
Then, for academic purposes, if you take 20% of 1MM GDP equaling $200,000 leaving you with $800,000
then take 20% of 2MM GDP equaling $400,000 leaving you with $1,600,000, you have considerably more money to use towards the future.
I'm surprised BR didn't pick up on this.
Just saying, Bob.
Even with an economic stimulus, a bank bailout and two wars, non-medical spending by the federal government is a smaller percentage of the economy than it was during most of Ronald Reagan's administration.We all know that GDP has been calculated differently during various administrations. Further, there is no comparison on what the effects of spending may have actually amounted to. Bank or automotive bailouts may not necessarily amount to higher GDP later. The author is making assumptions about future GDP.
Then, for academic purposes, if you take 20% of 1MM GDP equaling $200,000 leaving you with $800,000
then take 20% of 2MM GDP equaling $400,000 leaving you with $1,600,000, you have considerably more money to use towards the future.
I'm surprised BR didn't pick up on this.
Just saying, Bob.
beats on hood
you should know Bob by now. He's rather "hip". but hope he doesn't break a hip. never mind.Gotcha re Bob.
there are many definitions these days! here is one:
teabagger
A whining fool shouting loudly for liberty but not willing to pay the bill.
example:
After most American workers saw more money in their paycheck due to the lower tax rate, the teabaggers at Fox News railed against high taxes, but did not discuss how much Jesus hated hypocrisy.
Guess I need to read up on the Tea Party. Pretty ignorant about politics right now. I'm obsessed with G?del's Incompleteness Theorem, Kleene closures, automata, and wedding planning right now.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
you should know Bob by now. He's rather "hip". but hope he doesn't break a hip. never mind.
there are many definitions these days! here is one:
teabagger
A whining fool shouting loudly for liberty but not willing to pay the bill.
example:
After most American workers saw more money in their paycheck due to the lower tax rate, the teabaggers at Fox News railed against high taxes, but did not discuss how much Jesus hated hypocrisy.
perfect definition, thank you! do as i say, not as i do!
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